Guest Blogger – Acuvue Trueye

This is a guest blog entry about the Acuvue Trueye. This contact lens is not available in the USA at this time – blog.aclens.com Admin.

This lens has been available in the UK for several months and is the first daily disposable silicon hydrogel on the market. The lens is expensive at $67 for one months supply. Is it worth this premium price? Here is my take on the lens.

I have worn contact lenses for 32 years starting with PHEMA lenses (low water content and not good in term of oxygen permeability) and have tried many different polymers and designs, including very high water content lenses and daily disposables. I am an opticians worst nightmare: 1) Sensitive to preservatives, many cleaning agents and enzymes. 2) A heavy depositor and a sensitivity to them as well. 3) Problems with dry eyes. 4) A need for very high oxygen permeability or I get corneal oedema (as evidenced by rainbow effect round lights).

Daily disposables (both Acuvue Moist and Focus Dailies) get round the deposit problem, but dryness and insufficient oxygen flow was always an issue. Frequent replacement high water content lenses using Clear Care (the only solution that I tolerate) was a preferable alternative. However, even after one week’s use, the deposit problem would start to kick-in. Problems with dryness remained.

I moved to silicon hydrogels with mixed results and, in my 30 years wearing experience, I am very aware that the ‘best’ contact lens is very much a matter of fit, oxygen flow, resistance to dehydration and really the surface characteristics of the lens and the way this interacts with an individuals particular tear composition. This latter aspect is often underestimated in its importance.

So a brief encounter with O2 Optix; not a lens that suited me at all. Acuvue Advance was a big step forward. No oedema, nice white eyes, little dryness at the computer and the ability to nap in them as well. However, these lenses do not have good surface wetability (although J&J get round this initially with a wetting agent in the blister pack). The major problem was that the lenses deposited very heavily with lipids into only a few days of wear…and not being able to use a strong cleaner like Miraflow this was problematic. Thence to Acuvue Oasys. This lens was a definite improvement. The lipid problem was still present, but less so. However, the wetability of the surface still fell short and there was an annoying tendency for the lens to smear. I needed to replace this lens on a weekly basis. Next on the list was the new Avaira lens from Coopervision and for me, this really was a step in the right direction. I was often totally unaware of the lens and the visual acuity and tear film stability was excellent. The lens performed well for around 5 days before the deposit effect kicked in. Finally, the new Acuvue Trueye lens. This has been a revelation to me. I assumed that this would just be a re-packaged clone of the Advance lens, albeit with a different polymer variant. However, I was wrong in this and pleasantly surprised. The tear film stability and optical clarity is simply outstanding. Perhaps similar to a premium high water content lens. However, unlike the latter, problems with dehydration is almost non-existent and consequently dimensional stability and exceptional oxygen flow is maintained all day long…and I can nap.

I’m lucky in that the fit of the lens is spot on for myself and this may not be the case for everyone. However, in my mind, J&J have absolutely set the new standard for contact lenses. I really feel that this is a genuine step-change in lens technology to the extent that I’ve deferred on laser surgery.

The price is hefty, but in my own situation, as a problem patient, this lens is worth the price. Wait to see the other manufacturers play catch up. That will drive the price down and also provide the variations in fit characteristics to suit more patients. Good days ahead for contact lens wear!

Donald M. – Scotland

—————————This post is by a guest blogger. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the views of AC Lens or ACLens.com employees. Any medical references are opinion only. Please consult with your optometrist when making decisions regarding your vision care options.

Opinions expressed in this blog are those of the author and may not reflect the views of AC Lens or ACLens.com employees. Statements regarding vision health and other medical references in this blog are for informational purposes only. Please consult with your optometrist or personal physician when making decisions regarding your vision and health options. Read the full disclaimer.